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Background and Aim: Rodents are ubiquitous animals that host ectoparasites and transmit zoonotic diseases. We conducted a cross-sectional study on the seasonal variation, period prevalence (Pp), and relative risk of ectoparasitic infestations in rodents collected in North Sinai, Egypt, from September 2019 to August 2020. Materials and Methods: We captured 380 rodents during the study period. Rodents were euthanized to perform species identification, and 2930 external parasites were collected and identified using light microscopic examination with systemic keys depending on morphological characters. Results: Rattus norvegicus (brown rat), Rattus rattus frugivorus (white-bellied rat), Rattus rattus alexandrines (gray-bellied rat), and Mus musculus domesticus (house mouse) were captured at the highest frequencies during summer (n=186), followed by spring (n=84), fall (n=71), and winter (n=39), with a higher proportion of males captured in all seasons. Analysis of the infestation Pp revealed highly significant increases (p<0.01) in ectoparasites during the winter. Temperature, humidity, and dew point were significantly (p<0.01) correlated with the numbers of captured and infested rodents. Parasitological examinations showed the higher risks of flea (Echidnophaga gallinacea, Xenopsylla cheopis, and Leptopsylla segnis) and lice (Hoplopleura hirsuta, Hoplopleura ocanthopus, Hoplopleura oenomydis, and Polyplax spinulosa) infestations during winter and mite (Laelaps nuttalli, Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti, and Myobia musculi) infestations during summer. Conclusion: We conclude that ectoparasitic infestation prevalence and risk varies with predominating macroclimatic conditions. Strict preventive and biosecurity measures should be applied to combat rodent-related problems.

The current study aimed to investigate the presence of Salmonella and Helicobacter species in captive wild felids in addition to perform serotyping, antibiotic sensitivity test to the isolated Salmonella spp. and detection of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. A total of 60 fecal samples were collected from 30 captive wild felids from Giza zoo and private zoo in Egypt. All animals were apparent healthy except eight African lions (Panthera Leo) have a history of vomiting. Samples were examined bacteriologically for the presence of Salmonella spp., followed by biochemical and serological tests. Moreover, obtained isolates were subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity testing and detection of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Fecal samples from lions with history of vomiting, were subjected to direct molecular identification for detection of Helicobacter spp. Overall, Salmonella spp. were isolated from 3 wild cats (Felis chaus). Two serovars of Salmonella were detected; S. Bovismorbificans and S. Southampton while Helicobacter felis was isolated from one African lion. Isolates of Salmonella spp. showed complete resistance to cefaclor (100%), cefoxitin (100%), and cefadroxil (100%); and very high resistance to tobramycin (66.7%), while it completely sensitive to Azithromycin (100%), Sulfa/trimethoprim (100%), Nitrofurantoin (100%), Doxycycline (100%), Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid (100%), Fosfomycin (100%) and Oxytetracycline (100%). blaTEM and blaSHV were confirmed in Salmonella isolates showing resistant to Cefaclor and Cefoxitin, and aadA2 in S. Bovismorbificans that showing resistant to tobramycin. S. Southampton and S. Bovismorbificans have invA, stn, sopB, and hilA genes while S. Bovismorbificans carry also pefA gene as a virulence genes.

To date, there is limited data about the genetic relationship of Escherichia coli between wild birds and cattle because these birds act as silent vectors for many zoonotic bacteria. This study aimed to elucidate the role of rooming wild birds in the vicinity of cattle farm in transmission of the same pathogenic E. coli variants, identifying their virulence, resistance traits and genetic similarities of fimH virulence gene. About 240 faecal/cloacal swabs were collected from both species and examined bacteriologically. Escherichia coli was yielded in 45.8% and 32.5%, respectively, of examined cattle and wild birds. The most prevalent detected E. coli serovar was O26. High tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistance were recorded; however, gentamycin and ciprofloxacin exhibited the highest sensitivity rates. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conserved genotypic resistance (tetA and blaCTX-M) and virulence attributes (fimH, stx1, eaeA and ompA) of E. coli isolates were discussed in detail. The fimH gene revealed 100% sequence similarity when comparing with different E. coli isolates globally and locally. Finally, a close genetic association of E. coli with both wild birds and cattle was detected, thus strengthening its role in the dissemination of the infection via environment. Prevention and conservative policy should be carried as E. coli constitute enormous significant zoonotic risks to livestock and animal workers. Also, further studies to the whole genome sequencing of fimH, other virulence and resistance genes of E. coli are recommended trying to limit the possibilities of co-infection and transfer among different species.Contribution: The current study recorded updated data about the critical infectious role of wild birds to livestock, including cattle farms in Egypt. It also delivered some recommendations for good hygienic practices in cattle farms which must be implemented for handling animal manure.

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Nowadays, the degradation of ecosystems is increasing due to the extensive growth of human activity (Xu et al., 2013) and as a result of industrial processes and excessive use of fertilizers and other chemicals in agriculture, large quantities of pollutants were accumulated in the environment (Martinez-Lo´pez et al., 2005). Unlike other pollutants, heavy metals are non-biodegradable and persistent in nature for a long time causing biological magnification that may lead to severe health problems to human and wildlife (Malik and Zeb, 2009). Exceeding the permissible limits of heavy metals in the environment are considered to be toxic and interfere with essential metabolic and biochemical processes in a living organism by altering the activity of different enzymes, increasing free radicals and disrupting the antioxidant mechanism (Isaksson, 2010). Hence, the need for biological indicators for continuous monitoring of the level of heavy metals in the environment is significantly increased. Wild birds can be used as a bio-indicator for heavy metals pollution as it widely distributed, long lived, occupy several trophic